Thanks to an assortment of special-interest-related carve-outs throughout the U.S. House's Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, a number of Internet gambling foes have been lashing out at the bill. During a press conference yesterday, both Representative Chris Cannon, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Reverend Lou Sheldon, Chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition denounced the bill.
"More damage will be done with a bill that partially prohibits what is fundamentally wrong," Cannon said. "Government is a powerful teacher and it should teach with clarity. The social ills associated with gambling are not selective, but cross the spectrum of class, income, and religious persuasion."
"I oppose regulating the Internet, especially when we are not being consistent," he added.
Sheldon would prefer all Internet gambling be forbidden. "Rather than prohibit all forms of Internet gambling, the legislation actually legalizes interstate pari-mutuel wagering on horses, dogs and jai alai and permits these other forms of online gambling in the home," he said.
Sheldon urged members of Congress to oppose the bill until the loopholes were removed.
At the same time, a letter recently circulated by four key pro-family and anti-gambling leaders--Dr. James C. Dobson, president of Focus on the Family and gambling commission appointee, Charles
A. Donovan, executive president of Family Research Council, Pat Robertson, Christian Coalition founder, and Rev. Jerry Fallwell of Jerry Fallwell Ministries--has been finding its way around Capitol Hill. "H.R. 3125 is necessary to stop the rapid growth of Internet gambling that families, local government and even the states cannot control," they wrote. "This bill, although not perfect, would be a major step in the right direction."
Click here to read the letter.